"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" (Exod. 20:16). "Thou shalt not raise a false report; put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment… Keep thee far from a false matter…. Thou shalt take no gift; for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous" (Exod. 23:1,2,7,8). The ninth commandment refers to lying in a way that one’s neighbor (that is, another person with whom one is acquainted) is unjustly accused or convicted. Closely linked with this is taking a bribe to pervert justice (Exod. 23:8).

Lying is not only sinful when directed at one’s neighbor. Gehazi sinned when he told Naaman that Elisha had changed his mind and would receive Naaman’s gift after all. He followed this with a lie to Elisha when asked where he went (2 Kings 5:20-25). Gehazi lied in order to satisfy his covetousness.

Ananias and Sapphira lied for a somewhat different reason. At a time, in the early weeks of the history of the Church, when the more wealthy saints were selling their land or houses and distributing the proceeds to the poorer believers, Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession and brought only a portion of the proceeds to be distributed to the poor (Acts 4:33-37; 5:1,2). Now there was no clear-cut sin in holding back some for themselves. The sin occurred when they lied in representing their gift as the total proceeds from the sale when in fact it was only part (verses 3,4). In other words, the sin of lying developed out of a root of hypocrisy — pretending to a greater degree of devotedness to the Lord than was really there.

Lying is not an insignificant sin in God’s eyes. "These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:A proud look, a lying tongue,… a false witness that speaketh lies" (Prov. 6:16-19). "Lying lips are abomination to the Lord" (Prov. 12:22). Gehazi’s punishment for lying was the receipt of Naaman’s dread disease_leprosy_just as he had received, under false pretenses, Naaman’s gift. Ananias and Sapphira’s punishment was instant death_a warning that even in a period of great grace shown to man, God will not be mocked by the religious pretensions of those who claim to belong to Him. The prescribed judgment under the law for one found guilty of bearing false witness against another was to bring the judgment intended for the innocent person upon his false accuser (Deut. 19:16-19; read also the account of Haman and Mordecai in Esther 5:9-7:10).

We have considered lying out of spite toward one’s neighbor, lying to satisfy one’s greed, and lying as part of a false front, or hypocrisy. What, now, about lying out of fear, to protect oneself from danger? Is this, or any other kind of lying ever justified?

Abraham feared that the Egyptians would kill him so they could have his wife, who "was very fair." So he asked her to pass as his sister so that he might at least save his own skin if any of the princes of Egypt decided they wanted Sarah (Gen. 12). The unsuspecting princes did take her that the Pharaoh might have her for his wife; they even paid Abraham handsomely for this prize. But as the outcome of this untruth, plagues came upon Pharaoh’s house and Abraham and Sarah were expelled from Egypt in disgrace because of their lie. It is quite clear from the account in Genesis 12 that the Lord would have taken good care of Abraham and Sarah if they had told the truth. (See also Genesis 20 and 26 for similar accounts in the lives of Abraham and Isaac.)

Sarah lied to the Lord out of fear:"The Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?… Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid." For this the Lord rebuked Sarah, albeit rather gently, "Nay, but thou didst laugh" (Gen. 18:10-15).

Simon Peter boasted to the Lord, the night before the crucifixion, "I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison and to death" (Luke 22:33). Yet, later that same evening he was so afraid for his own safety that he lied three times when asked if he was one of Christ’s disciples (verses 56-60). The Lord rebuked Peter without saying a word:"And the Lord turned and looked upon Peter … and Peter went out and wept bitterly" (verses 61,62). Later, Peter was wonderfully restored to the Lord and became a bold ambassador for the crucified and risen Christ (John 21:15-19; Acts 3:12-4:14).

Thus, it seems clear that God does not look favorably upon lying, even when done for self-protection. In my ministry at the Baltimore City Jail, where most of the inmates are awaiting court appearances, I have often counseled the men to tell the absolute truth in court, whatever the cost might be, and to plead mercy of the court and place themselves in God’s hands. It would be far better for them to receive a prison sentence and have God with them than to be sent back to the streets without God.

In the next issue, Lord willing, we shall consider some further aspects of lying, including that most respectable of sins_"jes’ kidding"_as well as the matter of speaking the truth in a negative or harmful manner.